Rowand Machinery Co., a longtime Spokane-area heavy-equipment dealer, says it has bought 6 acres of land adjacent to its West Plains operation and is considering developing a business and industrial park there, among other possible uses.

The parcel is at 5800 W. Garden Springs Road, between Geiger Boulevard and Interstate 90, about two miles west of Spokane. The dealership sits on 40 acres of land, just south of there, at 6210 W. Rowand Road.

"This is adjacent to our existing property, and we acquired it because it had value to us as a contiguous piece," says Geoff Rowand, the company's COO.

Any ideas for the property are still in the concept stage, and the company is just starting to work on a site plan, Rowand says.

"I'm not sure what it will be, but we would like to set it up for when the economy turns around," he says.

Mark Lucas and Tracy Lucas, both of Spokane-based Kiemle & Hagood Co., handled the commercial real estate transaction.

Rowand Machinery Co. sells, rents, and services construction and forestry equipment. Brands of new heavy equipment it handles include John Deere, Hitachi, and Trail King.

Its complex includes a 25,000-square-foot main building that has office, warehouse, and service space, and a 12,000-square-foot service facility for large equipment.

In addition to its main dealership here, the 48-year-old family-run company has branches in Hayden, Idaho, and Pasco, Wash.